DUSHANBE, March 7, Asia-Plus -- Officers from the Interior Ministry department for combating drug trafficking (drug police) have rounded up a group of alleged drug smugglers in the Sarband district of southern Tajikistan’s province of Khatlon.

The source at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said that their officers on March 6 detained a 45-year-old resident of the Hamadoni district Saidahmad Qurbonov, alleged leader of drug-trafficking ring, in the Sarband district.  When searching his car, the drug police officers found some 226 kilograms of raw opium.  

Qurbonov faces charge under Article 200, Part 4 of Tajikistan’s Criminal – drug trafficking.  If convicted, Qurbonov could face up to twelve years in prison and confiscation of personal property on this charge.   

According to the MoI, their officers have intercepted more than 900 kilograms drugs, including some 400 kilograms of heroin, over the past two months.